Advocacy Toolbox

It wasn’t so long ago that when I would see the words “measurable outcomes” on a grant proposal, I would experience a wave of nausea and anxiety. I would be required, the grant stated, to prove to the prospective funder that our programs and activities had created a better life for those who touched clay, and for the rest of the city - and maybe the rest of humanity. Wow! A tall order. Not...

The Alliance of Artists Communities conducted a series of individual interviews in 2005 with a broad group representing various opinion leaders and constituents of the field of artists’ communities. The intent of the interviews was to gauge current perceptions and awareness of the Alliance and the field, and to solicit feedback on how the Alliance and the field can better communicate their...

In May 2005, The MacDowell Colony appeared before the Board of Selectmen in Peterborough, New Hampshire, to discuss their application for property tax exemption, as New Hampshire nonprofits are required to do annually. In a surprise move, the Board said they had doubts about The MacDowell Colony’s eligibility for the charitable property tax exemption defined by state law, beginning a two-year...

A report on the field of artists' communities and residency programs in the US, conducted July-September 2008. This summary compiles responses from 131 residency programs in the US to offer a snapshot of the field and trends. Download Field at a Glance (pdf)